Provincial government examining RM of McKillop amid tax hike turmoil

The provincial government says its stepping in immediately to review the state of affairs at the RM of McKilliop amid growing turmoil about a massive tax increase. 

The RM council says that weeks ago it discovered the municipality was in dire financial straits and required a 76 per cent increase in tax revenue. 

Given the circumstances and the breadth and level of concerns raised it was important to act.- Warren Kaeding, Minister of Government Relations

As a result, some residents' tax bills have more than doubled.  

The government is appointing Carol Ingham, a former public administrator, to "undertake a high level look into the general operations of the RM," says a government news release. 

Warren Kaeding, Sask.'s Minister of Government Relations, said in a news release Wednesday that, "given the circumstances and the breadth and level of concerns raised it was important to act." 

At a news conference Wednesday, Kaeding said this is a very rare move. Over the past 20 years, he said, the provincial government has intervened like this just five times.

He told reporters the review will focus on the "the number of petitions that have been initiated by the ratepayers that have been not acted on by the municipality." For example, last year ratepayers asked for a forensic and a management audit of the RM's books but those audits haven't happened. 

He said the review will also examine a series of lawsuits that have been launched against or by the RM and it will examine the state of the municipality's finances. 

Kaeding emphasized this review will be "a first step" which will help government get a clearer view of what's going on. He said further action could be taken from that point though he "and really do not want to speculate any further actions we might take place."

A final report on the matter is expected to be done by mid-September. 

This is just the latest development in what has been a tumultuous time for the RM.

RM office closed after alleged threats

The doors of the RM of McKillop's office are closed after staff and politicians reported threatening phone calls to RCMP. 

Howard Arndt, the local reeve, said the RM's office worker started receiving angry calls she perceived as threatening on Thursday, as residents were absorbing news that their taxes were soaring.

He said the callers "were inappropriate, loud, obnoxious, swearing. One of our staff members rightfully or wrongfully felt threatened," he said.

"Staff weren't feeling safe," said Arndt. On Monday he, a staff member and an RM councillor met with police about the threats in order to determine "had any of these crossed the line?" 

Emotions were running high last Thursday. An impromptu meeting at the RM office drew a large group of angry residents who hurled questions at Arndt for more than an hour. 

They wanted him to explain how their taxes could be going up so dramatically.

They were especially angry because earlier this year Arndt had, by his own admission, assured ratepayers their taxes wouldn't be rising this year. 

Arndt says he understands the anger but he said the threatening tone has gone too far. He said the RM's staff have decided not to come in to work because of all of this. 

As a result, the RM's office will be closed for the foreseeable future.